Folding table leg mounting means



Jan. 12, 1954 ANDERSON 2,665,961

FOLDING TABLE LEG MOUNTING MEANS Filed Jan. 22, 1951 INVENTOR.

fl/erf fJYnderson I o/ C.

Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATE OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to pivotal mountin means of a type well adapted for mounting foldi'ng table legs on tables but which may be used for other purposes, such as mounting swinging doors, windows and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide pivotal mounting means of strong and simple construction which is easy to apply to a table and which will support a table leg for quick and easy folding and unfolding movement but will not permit the table leg to fold or unfold in the ordinary course of use.

Another object is to provide a pivotal mounting means which will withstand a great amount of wear without becoming loose and manifesting lost motion or play between the several parts thereof.

Another object is to provide pivotal mounting means of this class having spring pressed detent devices embodied therein to yieldingly support a table leg either in a position perpendicular to a table or in a position parallel to a table.

Another object of this invention is to provide a table leg mounting means wherein the usual hinged or sliding braces are entirely eliminated thus doing away with the unsightliness and inconvenience of such braces.

Tables which fold are often unstable and wabbly and it is an object of this invention to provide an improved leg mounting means which will firmly connect the legs and the table top and will strongly resist wabbling and accidental collapsing when the table is set up and will effectively hold the legs in a folded position when the legs are folded and the table is being handled.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in plan showing a corner of a table having a folding table leg secured thereto by this pivotal mounting means, the table leg being shown in a folded position in which it is parallel to the table top.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts in elevation taken substantially on broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1 but showing the leg in a downwardly extending position perpendicular to the table top.

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view showing a leg mounting bracket of the type used in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing a double bracket used to mount two separate .leg members of different 2 lengths on the corner of a table, whereby the leg members of different length may be selectively used to support the table at two different heights.

Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of a mounting bracket which functions in a manner similar to the bracket shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and 3 but which may be attached directly to a table top.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts in plan, showing a bracket similar to the bracket shown in Fig. 1 but which is equipped with a spring of fiat metal instead of a coil type spring.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing means of modified form for connecting two parts of a bracket together.

Fig. 8 is a, detached fragmentary perspective view of one of the bracket parts shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of table leg mounting bracket constructed in ac cordance with this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a table leg adapted to be used in the mounting bracket shown in Fig. 9, said table leg having a thin metal sleeve of substantially rectangular cross section provided on its upper end portion.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts in elevation, showing the bracket and leg member of Figs. 9 and 10 as they may appear when assembled, the full lines showing the leg member in a downwardly extending table supporting position and the dot and dash lines showing the leg member in a folded position.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bracket which is similar to the bracket shown in Fig. 9 except that vertical corrugations are provided therein for frictional engagement with a leg member.

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a bracket similar to the one shown in Fig. 9 but in which the two parts thereof are provided with slot and tenon means by which they may be secured together.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing a modification of this invention which is well adapted for mounting a swinging member such as a door or a window but which can also be used to mount a table leg.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a door hinged in a door frame by the use of two of the pivotal mounting members shown in Fig. 14. 1

Fig. 16 is a detached plan view, with parts broken away to reveal other parts, and showing a pivotal mounting member similar to the one shown in Fig. 14 except that the pivot means and detent means thereof are ofiset to one side of the metal straps by which the device is attached to a door and a door frame.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

The embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a bracket having two integral Side plates 29 and 2| disposed at right angles to each other. A third plate member 22 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the side plate 2| and extends perpendicularly therefrom in spaced relation from and parallel to the side plate 20.

Bracket plates 2|] and 2| have perforations 23, Fig. 3, therein through which screws 24 may be inserted and threaded into two downwardly extending skirt or frame members 25 and 26 which are rigid with a table top 21. The bracket members 20 and 2| thus form angle shaped reinforcing members at the right angle corners where the skirt members 25 and 26 intersect.

A table leg 28 in the form of a metal angle bar is disposed between the plate members 20 and 22. The table leg 28 has a hub 29 welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. The outer end portion 30 of the hub 29 is of reduced diameter to provide a suitable support for a helical compression spring 3| to fit over. One end of the spring 3| bears against the bracket part 23 and the other end of said spring bears against the shoulder formed by the outer end of the larger portion 29 of the hub. The spring 3| resiliently urges the table leg 28 toward the plate member 22. Clearance is provided between the hub 30 and bracket part 20 so that the leg 28 can move a short distance away from the plate 22 as is required in operation.

A pivot bolt 32 extends through suitable holes 33, Fig. 3, in the bracket part 29 and plate 22 and through the hub 29. 30 and pivotally connects the table le 28 with the bracket which is attached to the table.

The flange of table leg member 23 which is adjacent to the bracket plate 22 has preferably two diametrically opposite rounded knobs 34 rigidly secured thereto. Preferably the knobs 34 are in the form of hardened heads on rivets 35 and the rivets 35 are riveted into the leg member 28. The knobs 34 are spaced outwardly from the axis of the pivot bolt 32. The bracket plate 22 has a plurality of countersunk depressions 36 provided therein and arranged in a circular path at, the same radial distance from the axis of pivot pin 32 as are the rounded knobs 34 and adapted to receive the rounded knobs 34. Four depressions 36 are shown at angular intervals of ninety degrees in Fig. 3 but obviously the number of these depressions may be varied.

The knobs 34, urged into the depressions 36 by the spring 3|, provide detent means for yieldingly holding a table leg either in an operative position or in a folded position. The force required to angularly move the table leg away from the folded position or the table supporting position will be determined by the strength of the spring 3| and the shape and proportions of the knobs 34 and depressions 36. These parts are designed and proportioned so that the table le will be held in both the operative and. the folded position firmly enough to prevent accidental displacement of the leg. The spring 3| takes up all wear which might otherwise resultin D 3! lost motion.

The bracket 20, 2| reinforces the table corner and cooperates with the leg and leg mounting means to provide a strong, efiicient and durable support which will not allow a table to collapse and fold inadvertently.

The table 21 and skirt members 25 and 26 which are shown in Fig. 4 are the same as those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The mounting bracket in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that one part 2 la of said bracket is longer than the part 2| shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and has two spaced apart parallel plates 22a and 22b welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. Two table legs 28a and 23b are pivotally mounted on a pin 320: which passes through both of the plates 22a and 22b and through the shorter side part 20a of the mounting bracket, the hubs, springs, rounded knobs and counterbored depressions' of the Fig. 4 structure are the same as the hubs 29, 39 and springs 3| and knobs 34 and de pressions 36 shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The leg 28a is longer than the leg 28b. Two legs like those shown in Fig. 4 are mounted at each corner of the table 21 and either the set of longer legs 28a or the set of shorter legs 28?) may be selectively used to support the table at different heights. Thus this structure can be used either as a table of standard height or as a card table of lower height.

The table leg mounting bracket shown in Fig. 5 comprises a top plate 31 which is adapted to be secured directly to the under side of a table top as by screws, not shown, which pass through holes 38. A channel shaped or U-shaped table leg receiving member comprising two parallel spaced apart side plates 39 and 49 and a back plate 4| is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the top plate 31. The plates 39 and 49 have aligned holes 42 which correspond to the holes 33 of Fig. 3 and are adapted to receive a pivot pin similar to the pivot pin 32 of Figs. 1 and 2 and which pivotally support a table leg similar to the leg 28 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Depressions 36:: are provided in the plate 40 and are similar to depressions 33 in Fig. 3 and function in a similar manner. The bracket shown in Fig. 5 can be used to mount a table leg on a table which does not have any skirt members 25 and 26 of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 shows a construction in which a spring 43 formed of flat metal is used instead of the spring 3|. The spring 43 bears against a bracket plate 20 and against the end of a hub 44 which is rigid with a table leg 45. Bracket and pivot parts 20, 2|, 22 and 32 shown in Fig. 6 are similar to the correspondingly numbered parts of Figs. 1 to 3. The table leg 45 carries knobs 34a which are similar to the knobs 34 and which cooperate with depressions similar to the depressions 36 of Figs. 1 to 3.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate a structure in which a plate 46 is secured to a bracket part 4'! without welding and in a readily assembled manner. In this instance the plate 48 has a plurality of integral lugs 48 on an edge thereof and extending at right angles therefrom. These lugs 43 are adapted to be engaged within openings 49 in the bracket part 41 and to hook underneath dis,- placed integral parts 50 of the said bracket part 41. The parts 53 are pressed or displaced sidewise relative to the plane of the bracket part4! far enough so that the hook shaped 1ugs48 will be flush with the outer. surface of the'bracket part 41 when the. two parts 46 and 4]. are assembled.

By the construction just described the plate 45 of Figs. 7 and 8 is securely attached to the bracket part 47 without welding and said plate 46 is not removable after a table leg has been assembled with the bracket. This construction facilitates assembly for quantity production purposes. Parts 46 and i! of Figs. 7 and 8 correspond to parts 22 and 2! respectively of Figs. 1 to 3.

Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 show folding table leg mounting means of modified form in which a wooden table leg is used and in which means are provided to positively lock the table leg in a downwardly extending table supporting position perpendicular to a table top.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a wooden table leg having on its upper end portion a closely fitting thin resilient metal sleeve 52 of substantially rectangular cross section. The upper end of the table leg 5! has one rounded corner 53 and the sleeve 52 is rounded to conform to the shape of the rounded corner 53. These rounded corners provide clearance to allow folding of the leg 5!, as will be apparent from the clot and dash line showing of these parts in Fig. 11. A transverse pin receiving hole 54, Fig. 10, is provided in the table leg 5! and sleeve 52. An upwardly and outwardly bent hook shaped member 55 is provided along one side of the lower end portion of the sleeve 52.

A mounting bracket to receive the leg member 5| is shown in Figs. 9 and 11. This bracket comprises two integral side parts 55 and 5"! disposed at right angles to each other and having holes 58 for the reception of screws by which this mounting bracket may be secured to skirt portions of a table similar to the skirt portions 25 and 25 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Two other integral bracket parts 6!! and 6! are formed at right angles to each other and have out turned edge flanges 52 which are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the respective bracket parts 55 and 5?. The bracket parts 56, 51, 60 and 6! thus cooperate to provide a leg mounting bracket which affords a socket of rectangular cross section to receive a table leg. The bracket part 6! is shorter than the other bracket parts and is flush with the other bracket parts at the top but only extends about half way to the lower ends of the other bracket parts so that a clearance opening 53 is left below the lower edge of the bracket part 5! to permit folding of the leg member 5!. When the leg 5! is folded, as shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. 11 it extends crosswise through this clearance opening 63.

Two oppositely disposed upright slots 5 areprovided in the opposed bracket parts 5'! and 65 for slidably and rotatively receiving a cross pin 55, Fig. 11, which extends through the hole 54 in the table leg 5! and sleeve 52 and pivotally and slidably attaches the table leg to the mounting bracket. Preferably the four sides of the thin resilient metal sleeve 52 are all bowed outwardly a slight amount so that they stand clear of the adjacent faces of the table leg 5!, as shown in Fig. 11. These outwardly bowed sides frictionally contact the bracket plates 55, 5?, 55 and 5! with sufficient force to prevent the table leg 5! from dropping out of the bracketif the table is lifted while the legs thereof are in table supporting position. Also this frictional engagement holds the table leg 5! in a folded position against the action of gravity.

A frictional engagement similar to that just explained may be provided by forming corru- 6 gations 66, Fig. 12 in the sides of a bracket 59 which, except for the corrugations 56, is similar to the bracket shown in Fig. 9. When the corrugations 66 are provided in the bracket the sides of the thin metal sleeve on the table leg may be plane and flat and in contact with the table leg and do not need to be outwardly bowed, as just previously described in connection with sleeve 52.

The bracket shown in Fig. 13 is similar to the bracket shown in Figs. 9 and 11 except that slots 6'! are provided in an angle shaped part, which corresponds to the part 56, 5'! of Figs. 9 and 10, and tenons or lugs 68 are provided on another angle shaped bracket part which corresponds to the part 60, 5! of Figs. 9 and 10. This provides a bracket which maybe assembled without welding by projecting the lugs 68 into the slots 5'! and riveting or bending the outer ends of the lugs.

In the use of the table leg mounting means shown in Figs. 9 to 13, when the table leg 5! is folded it will occupy a position as shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. 11 and will be parallel to a table and the pivot pin will be at the lower ends of the slots 54. To move the table leg 5! into an operative or table supporting position the leg is first angularly moved clockwise substantially ninety degrees from the dot and dash line position, Fig. 11, and is then moved upwardly into the socket formed by bracket parts 56, 51, and 5! into a position as shown by full lines in Fig. 11. In this table supporting position the pin will be at the upper ends of the slots 55 and the hook shaped member 55 will be hooked over the lower edge of the bracket part 55. This will firmly support the table leg 5! and prevent angular movement of the same in all directions until the leg is again pulled downwardly in the socket and the hook shaped member 55 is released.

Obviously a plate similar to the plate 3'! of Fig. 5 may be welded to the top of any one of the brackets shown in Figs. 9, 11, 12 and 13 to adapt these brackets to be secured directly to the bottom side of a table top.

The mounting devices shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are illustrated as applied to swinging doors, windows and the like but may be used in mounting table legs or other swinging members.

Figs. 14 and 15 show a mounting device comprising two parallel face to face metal plates 10 and H each having a hub 12 welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. The hubs 72 register with each other and a pivot pin I3 extends through said hubs and through the plates 10 and 1! and pivotally connects these two plates to gether. Preferably a resilient split washer H! is provided between the head of the pivot pin 13 and the adjacent hub 72.

One of the plates, such as the plate '15 has two holes 15 provided therein and spaced at equal distances outwardly from the axis of the pivot pin 13. Also this same plate 75 has two cup shaped members 75 welded to the outermost side thereof coaxially of the holes 15 and with their open ends in engagement with the plate '10. A rivet shaped detent member I! in each cup shaped member 7 6 has a rounded head 18 of hardened metal and has a compression springle thereon. Each rivet shaped member 11 extends through a suitable perforation in the outer end wall of the cup 16 in which it is disposed and may have its outer end portion upset, as indicated in Fig. 14. Each rounded head 18 is adapted to seat within depressions or holes 8'! in the plate 1!. Thus detent means is provided to yieldingly hold the two plates in predetermined angular positions relative to each other. The depressions 8| are arranged in a circular path and obviously their number may be varied depending on the number of different angular positions at which it is desired to have the detent means operative.

Fig. 15 illustrates one way of installing the mounting device shown in Fig. 14. Said Fig. 15 shows the plate 10 secured to a door frame 82 and the plate H secured to the top edge of a door 83. A mortise cavity 84 is provided in the frame 82 to receive the parts and 12 which are carried by the plate '10. Also a cavity 85 is bored or otherwise formed in the top edge of the door 83 to receive the hub member 12 carried by plate I i. Obviously this mounting member is reversible as respects the door 83 anddoor frame 82.

If desired the bottom of the door and door frame may be equipped with pivotal mounting devices which are a duplicate of those shown at the top of the door. Also it is possible to use one of these mounting devices either at the top or at the bottom of the door and door frame and to use a pivotal mounting means of a different type at the other end. 1

Also one or more of the devices show in Figs. 14 and 15 may be used as a pivotal mounting means along one or more of the sides of a window which is swingingly mounted in a frame.

In the structure shown in Figs. 14 and 15 the two'fiip shaped members '15 and hubs l2 and pivot pins 13 are positioned mid way between the two sides of the two plates 10 and H. This provides a symmetrical device and in installing the same in the manner shown in Fig. 15 it is necessary to provide openings, such as 84 and 85, to receive the protruding parts. Fig. 16 illustrates a transversely .offset type of pivotal mounting means in which two plates 10a and Ha have transversely offset portions 16 and 11 respectively which carry the pivotal connecting devices and detent means. The pivot pin 13 and inverted cup members 16 shown in Fig. 16 are duplicates of those shown in Fig. 14. Also it will be understood that the remainder of the pivot and detent means, including depressions 81a in offset portion 8? are the same as those shown in Fig. 14. Transversely offset pivotal mounting means of the type shown in Fig. 16 may be installed without mortising or boring recesses for protruding parts and is satisfactory fordoors and windows which only swing in one direction from a closed position.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose preferred embodiments of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that changes may be made Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 1

1. In table supporting means, two spaced apart parallel metal plates; 2. two flange metal table leg of angle shaped cross section having one end portion thereof positioned between said plates with one flange parallelto and adjacent one of the plates and the other iiange extending toward the other plate; a hub rigidly attached to the inner side of the upper end portion of the table leg flange which is positioned. parallel to and adjacent said one plate; a, pivot pin extending through both plates and through the hub carrying flange and the hub; a spring posiof the hub carrying flange of the table leg in radially spaced relation from said pivot pin and yieldingly pressed against the adjacent plate by the force of said spring; and two depressions in said adjacent plate positioned in the path of movement of said knob, whereby said knob will enter said depressions and yieldingly hold the table leg in a folded position and in an extended position.

2. In table leg means, two spaced apart parallel metal plates; a two flange metal table le of angle shaped cross section having one end portion thereof positioned between said plates with one flange parallel to and adjacent one of the plates and the other flange extending toward the other plate; a hub rigidly attached to the inner side of the upper end portion of the table leg flange which is positioned parallel to and adjaoent to said one plate, the outer end portion of said hub being smaller in diameter than the inner end portion thereof and the larger inner end portion thereof providing a shoulder at the junction of the said two portions; a pivot pin extending through both plates and through the hub carrying flange and the hub; a helically coiled compression spring encircling the smaller part of said hub and interposed between the shoulder forming end of the larger hub portion and one of the plates, said spring yieldingly urging the leg member toward the plate remote from the spring; two rivets rigid with the hub carrying flange of the table leg and positioned in spaced relation from and on diametrically opposite sides of said pivot pin, said rivets having outwardly protruding rounded heads yieldingly pressed against the adjacent plate by said spring; and depressions provided at substantially ninety degree intervals in the surface of the plate against which said rounded rivet heads are present and in the path along which said rivet heads move, whereby said rivet heads will enter said depressions and yieldingly hold said table leg in a folded position and in an extended position.

ALBERT E. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,012,498 Yoe Dec. 19, 1911 1,024,804 Mergner Apr. 30, 1912 1,159,529 Parizek Nov. 9, 1915 1,687,174 Mountford et al. Oct. 9, 1928 1,833,728 Townsend et al. Nov. 24, 1931 1,863,368 Folmer June 14, 1932 1,882,939 Root Oct. 18, 1932 1,885,384 Snow Nov. 1, 1932 2,023,039 l-larting Dec. 10, 1935 2,047,389 Sinclair July 141, 1936 2,202,318 Ralson -1 May 28, 1940 2,309,189 Filonowicz Jan. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 465,437 Great Britain May 7, 1937 

